Postage meter lockout device



Jan. 31, 1967 L. c. HILL I 3,301,360

POSTAGE MET R LOCKOUT DEVICE Filed May 5, 1965 3,301,360 POSTAGE METERLOCKOUT DEVICE Lewis C. Hill, Fremont, Calif. assignor to Friden, Inc.,a corporation of Delaware Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,562 Claims.(Cl. 192-8) This invention relates to a metered mailing machine, andmore particularly to a means for preventing fraudulent use of the meter.

The present invention is an improvement of a metered mailing machine ofthe type disclosed in Patent No. 3,107,854 issued to Ingemar H.Lundquist, Oct. 22, 1963. In this type of mailing machine the amount ofprepaid postage to be printed on envelopes or on strips of tape foraflixture on packages or other bulk mail matter is settable in themachine by a manual adjustment of the selector mechanism. Uponadjustment of the selector mechanism, the value is visually indicatedand the type wheels in the rotary printing head are accordingly adjustedto printing position. At the same time, mechanism is conditioned toeffect a positive and a negative registration of the value in theselector mechanism in the ascending and descending registers,respectively, of the machine upon initiation of the postage meteringoperamay be effected without a registration of the postage value in theregisters. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a postage metering machine with an improved means for preventingfraudulent use of the meter upon an interruption of the register drivemeans.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means forpreventing operation of a postage meter when the actuating means for theregisters and the rotation of the print-head are out of phase one withthe other.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionof a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of the postage meteringmachine showing the meter drive means;

and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are similar elevational views of the meter driveterminating means in each of two operational positions.

The invention is disclosed as embodied in a metered mailing machine ofthe type described in the above-mentioned Patent No. 3,107,854, having abase portion (FIG. 1), a postage meter unit 12, detachabl'y mounted onthe base portion 10, and a drive mechanism within the base portion forcontrolling the synchronous cyclic rotation of the auxiliary print-head,generally indicated at 15, and the postage indicia print-head, indicatedat 16. The auxiliary print-head is supported within the framework of thebase portion 10, while the indicia print-head 16 is suitably journalledwithin the postage meter unit 12, and each of the print-heads ispositioned for cooperation with the endless conveyor belt 17 runningwithin base portion 10. As each envelope is moved into engagement withthe conveyor belt 17 for conveyance to the right in FIG. 1, asynchronous cyclic rotation of printheads 15 and 16 is effected for theprinting of a postmark impression on the envelope.

Upon securing the detachable postage meter unit 12 in United StatesPatent 0 its attached, or operative, position upon base portion 10, thepower-driven or actuating mechanism for the meter unit is operativelyconnected to the main drive unit, generally indicated at 20, secured onthe main drive shaft 21 (FIG. 1). The indicia print-head 16 is supportedbetween each of two shafts 22 and 23 journalled in meter unit 12. Shaft22, at its one end, is secured to one end of the indicia print-head 16concentric therewith, while shaft 23 is secured at one end to the otherend of the indicia print-head 16 concentric therewith and coaxial withshaft 22. Generally, the actuating mechanism for the meter unit 12comprises gear 24 rotatably mounted upon shaft 22 and enmeshed with thegear 25 of the driving unit 20, a notched disk 26 for cooperation withthe Geneva wheel 27 of the driving unit 20 and a gear 28 adapted tobecome enmeshed with the mutilated gear 29 of the driving unit 20, thenotched disk 26 and gear 28 of the actuating mechanism being secured onthe indicia printhead shaft 22.

Upon engagement of the main drive clutch 34 (FIG. 1), the driving unit20 becomes effective to control the cyclic operation of the postagemeter unit 12 in a wellknown manner and as fully described in theabove-mentioned Patent No. 3,107,854. Rotation of the gear 25 of thedriving unit 20 immediately becomes effective through gear 24 rotatablymounted on shaft 22, to release the indicia print-head 16 for a cyclicoperation, as described in the above-mentioned patent. During this phaseof the cyclic operation of the meter unit, the Geneva wheel 27, incooperation with the notched disk 26, is effective to prevent rotationof the indicia print-head shaft 22, followed immediately by the meshingof the teeth of the mutilated gear 29 with the teeth of the associatedgear 28 secured on the print-head supporting shaft 22 to impart a cyclicrotation thereto. Engagement of the main driving clutch 34 also effectscyclic rotation of the auxiliary print-head 15 in synchronism with theindicia printhead 16. Rotation of the auxiliary print-head 15 iscontrolled in the same manner as that of the indicia printhead 16,wherein the Geneva wheel 35, similar to the wheel 27, and the mutilatedgear 36, similar to gear 29, is secured on drive shaft 21 and cooperaterespectively with notched disk 37 and gear 38 secured on the shaft 39which carries auxiliary print-head 15.

The engagement of the main drive clutch 34 is controlled by thefrictional engagement of an envelope or other piece of mail matter withthe left end of the endless belt 17 (FIG. 1) to initiate cyclicoperation of the auxiliary print-head 15 and the indicia print-head 16in timed relation to the movement of the envelope by belt 17, to theright as viewed in FIG. 1. As the leading edge of an envelope moves intoengagement with the endless belt 17, the pressure foot 45 is alsoengaged thereby. Pressure foot 45 is secured on the outer end of clutchcontrol. shaft 46 and is positioned adjacent the edge of the belt 17 ina manner such that immediately upon engagement of the envelope with theendless belt 17, the subsequent movement of the envelope thereby rockspressure foot 45 and therefore shaft 46 counter-clockwise as viewed fromthe lower end in FIG. 1. Upon such rocking movement of the shaft 46, theupstanding arm 47 secured thereon and pivotally supporting the left-handend of clutch control link 48 moves the link 48 to the left to rockclutchengaging bellcrank 49, thereby releasing the clutch 34 for cyclicrotation.

Following each cycle of rotation of the auxiliary printhead 15 and theindicia print-head 16, main drive clutch 34 becomes disengaged. Toeffect the disengagement of the clutch 34, the free end of the clutchcontrol link 48 extends into the rotational path of the pin 50 carriedby the driven side of the clutch. Following approximately 180 degrees ofclockwise rotation of the clutch 34, as viewed from the bottom in FIG.1, pin 50 engages the extended end of the control link 48, rocking itcounterclockwise about its pivotal connection with arm 47, therebyremoving the tooth of the actively moved link 48 from engagement withthe ear 51 of clutch-engaging bellcrank 49. Thus, bellcrank 49 isreleased to the urgency of its spring 52, rocking bellcrank 49 intoclutch-disengaging position with respect to the clutch 34, whereuponclutch 34 becomes disengaged to terminate rotation of the printheads and16. Main drive clutch 34 and therefore drive shaft 21 are driven in awell-known manner by an electric motor through a suitable slip clutchand the timing belt 53. The foregoing is believed to sufiice for anunderstanding of the operation of the driving mechanism 20. However, fora more complete description reference is to be had to theafore-mentioned Patent No. 3,107,854.

As stated above, during each cycle of machine operation, the desiredamount of postage as indicated in the selector register is imprintedupon a piece of mail matter, and this same value is subtracted from thevalue in the descending register and is also accumulated in theascending register. As fully disclosed in the afore-mentioned patent,the registration of selected values in the descending and ascendingregisters is controlled by the rotation of actuator shaft 60 (FIGS. 2and 3) in cyclic timed relation to the rotation of the postage indiciaprint-head 16. In order to maintain such cyclic timed relationshipbetween the indicia print-head 16 and the register actuating mechanism,a toothed pulley 61 is secured on the outer end of the print-head shaft23 and a similar toothed pulley 62, having an identical pitch diameterto pulley 61, is secured on the outer end of register actuator shaft 60,each of the pulleys 61 and 62 being d-rivingly connected by means of atiming belt 63. Tautness of the belt 63 is controlled by an idler arm 64rockably mounted at its one end on a stud 65 secured on frame member 66of the meter unit. At its other end, idler arm 64 carries a roller 67which is resiliently maintained in engagement with the outer surface ofbelt 63 by means of a tension spring 68 which is suitably supported atits one end on the extension of the roller supporting pin 69 and at itsother end on a pin 70 secured on frame member 66.

Each of the shafts 23 and 60, the indicia print-head shaft and registeractuator shaft, respectively, rotate in synchronism. The toothed pulley61 on shaft 23 becomes a driving pulley while pulley 62 on shaft 60 isthe driven pulley. As the indicia print-head 16 is rotated approximately210 degrees from its full-cycle position, the leading edge of theindicia die plate 71 moves into a suitable opening provided in the baseof the meter unit 12. During the initial 210 degrees rotation of theshaft 23, or digitation phase of the cycle, the value in the selectormechanism is registered in both the descending and ascending registers.It will be noted that the opening in the base of the meter unit isconventional in size, i.e., its length is slightly greater than theaxial width of the print-head 16 to permit rotation of the print-headtherein, and its width is approximately two-thirds of the arcual lengthof the indicia die plate 71 so that only a portion of the die plateappears in the opening at any given time. The foregoing is conventionaland is fully shown and described in the afore-mentioned Patent No.3,107,854..

If, for any reason, the timing belt 63 should become broken or teethshould be stripped therefrom during this initial, or digitation, phaseof the cycle, the amount of postage in the selector mechanism may or maynot be registered in the descending and ascending registers, dependingupon the angular rotation of the pulleys 61 and 62 at the time theoperation of the belt is terminated. If the indicia print-head 16 islocked against rotation immediately following the initial 210 degreesrotation of the shaft 23, an impression will not be taken from theindicia die 71. On the other band, should the belt 63 be broken, or itsteeth stripped during the remaining 150 degrees, approximately, of themachine cycle, an indicia impression and the registration of the postagevalue in both registers will have been effected and a subsequent machinecycle of operation will be precluded.

For the purpose of locking the meter drive means in either itsfull-cycle position or following a partial cyclic rotation thereof, dueto the severance of the timing belt 63 or the stripping of the teeththerefrom, a three-arm bellcrank 75 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is provided and ispivotally supported on a stud 76 carried by frame member 66. Each of thetwo arms 77 and 78 of the three-arm bellcrank 75 lies in a planeparallel to and adjacent the outer surface of the toothed drive pulley61 for cooperation with a pin 79 secured on the side of the pulley. Thefree end portion of the arm 77 is formed to provide a shoulder or hook80 for engagement with the pin 79 in the full-cycle position of drivepulley 61, the full-cycle position of the pin 79 being indicated by dashline in FIG. 2. The angular relationship of the arms 77 and 78, one tothe other, is such that in one of the two rocked positions of bellcrank75, and upon normal counterclockwise rotation of the drive pulley 61,the shoulder 80 of arm 77 will engage pin 79 in the full-cycle positionof the pulley 61. In the other rocked position of hellcrank 75, thesquare end of arm 78 will be positioned in the rotational path of thepin79, whereby pin 79 will abut the end of arm 78 following approximately210 degrees of the cyclic rotation of the pulley 61. Normally, bellcrank75 is urged in a clockwise direction by means of a spring 81 supportedat its one end on a pin carried by arm 82 on bellcrank 75 and at itsother end on a pin 83 secured on frame member 66.

In norma cyclic operation of the meter 12, bellcrank 75 is rockedto-and-fro to prevent engagement of pin 79 with the shoulder 80 of arm77 or the abutment of the pin with the end of the arm 78. To control theoscillation of the bellcrank 75, a link 84 is pivotally supported at itsone end at 85 on arm 82 of bellcrank 75 and is supported adjacent itsother end for reciprocative movement by means of a slot therein inengagement With pin 70 on frame member 66. At its free end, link 84 isprovided with a lip formed at a right angle thereto, the outer surface86 of which is adapted for engagement by a pin 87 secured on the drivenpulley 62, during each cycle of rotation of the pulley.

In the full-cycle position of the drive pulley 61, carried by print-headshaft 23, the pin 79 is in the position indicated by dash line in FIG.2. At this same time, pin 87 carried by the driven pulley 62, secured onregister actuator shaft 61), is in the position indicated by dash linein FIG. 2, displaced approximately 210 degrees counterclockwise from theposition of the pin 79 on pulley 61. In this full-cycle position of thepins 79 and 87, spring 81 urges link 84 the extent of its movement tothe right (FIG. 2), thereby maintaining shoulder 80 of arm 77 out of thepath of rotation of the pin 79 to enable rotation of drive pulley 61 andtherefore rotation of the printhead 16. Following a 180 degree rotationof print-head 16, the pins 79 and 87 are in the respective positionsshown in FIG. 2, wherein pin 87 contacts the lip formed on the end ofthe link 84. During the subsequent 90 degrees rotation of drive pulley61 and driven pulley 62, the pin 87 is effective to move link 84 to theleft, rocking bellcrank 75 counter-clockwise against the urgency of thespring 81 to remove the end of arm 78 out of the rotational path oftravel of pin 79, as seen in FIG. 3. Thus, an uninterrupted cycle ofmeter operation may be completed.

If, at any time during the initial degree rotation of the vdrive pulleys61 and 62, the teeth should be stripped from belt 63 or the belt shouldbecome severed, the bellcrank 75 will remain in the normally rockedposition shown in FIG. 2. In this condition of the parts, pin 87 mayassume any angular position in a counter-clockwise direction from thedash line position shown in FIG. 2 to the full line position shown.During this partial cyclic rotation of the driven pulley 62, thedigitation phase of the meter operation will not have been completed. Atthe same time, drive pulley 61 will continue its counterclockwiserotation until pin 79 thereon abuts the ends of the arm 78 of bellcrank75 to prevent further rotation of the print-head shaft 23, therebyenabling the wellknown function of the conventional slip clutch withinthe machine drive system as described in Patent No. 3,107,- 854. It willbe noted that the partial cyclic rotation of the print-head 16 andtherefore pulley 61 counter-clockwise to the position wherein ,pin 79engages the end of the arm 78 is not suflicient to effect a completeimpression of the postage indicia die plate 71.

In the event the belt 63 becomes severed or the teeth stripped therefromduring any part of the cycle following l80 degrees to 210 degreesangular rotation of drive pulley 61 and the driven pulley 62, theindicia print-head 16 and toothed pulley 61 will continue rotation in acounterclockwise direction until pin 79 contacts shoulder 80 of arm 77of bellcrank 75, remembering that pin 87 will have moved the link 84 tothe left to position shoulder 80 in the path of rotation of the pin 79.Under this condition, the postage impression will have been made and thedigitation phase of the cycle will have been completed so that theamount of postage registered in the selector mechanism will have beensubtracted out of the descending register and accumulated in theascending register. However, the tens-transfer phase of the operationmay or may not have been completed.

Following a severance or stripping of the belt 63, the cover of themeter unit 12 must be removed by someone with authority to do so, andthe broken or stripped belt 63 replaced by a new belt. In the firstinstance, i.e., where the meter operation has been terminated by theengagement of pin 79 with the end of arm 78 and after the meter coverhas been removed, the toothed pulley 61 and therefore print-head I16 arerotated counterclockwise (FIGS. 2 and 3) to the full-cycle position andthe register actuator shaft 60 is likewise rotated in a counterclockwisedirection to the full-cycle position followed by the replacement of thebelt 63. It will be noted that under the first condition the selectedpostage will remain locked in the selector mechanism, in a well-knownmanner, as fully described in the reference patent, No. 3,107,854.Consequently, as the register actuator shaft 60 is rotated to itsfull-cycle position, the amount of postage indicated in the selectormechanism will be entered into the descending register and the ascendingregister followed by the tens-transfer phase in each register tocomplete the operation.

In the second instance, even though the indicia printhead 16 returns toits full-cycle position wherein it becomes locked by virtue of theengagement of pin 79 with the shoulder 80 of arm 77, the digitationphase of the cycle of operation will have been completed and the valuein the selector mechanism will have been entered into both thedescending and ascending registers. However, the register actuator shaft60 must be restored counterclockwise (FIGS. 2 and 3) to its full-cycleposition before installation of a new belt. During the restoration ofregister actuator shaft 60 to its full-cycle position, the tens-transferphase of the operation will be completed.

What is claimed is:

1. A drive mechanism for a postage metering machine comprising arotative driving member, means for controlling cyclic operation .of saidrotative driving member, a rotative member driven in cyclic timedrelation to said drive member, a belt means operatively connecting saiddriven member with said driving member, and a normally inoperativelocking means rendered operable by said driven member in each of certainangularly rotated positions thereof to lock said driving member in acorresponding predetermined one of a plurality of angularly rotatedpositions upon severance of said belt means.

2. A drive mechanism for a postage metering machine comprising a tootheddrive pulley, a cyclically operable means for imparting rotation to saiddrive pulley, a toothed driven pulley, a timing belt connecting saiddriven pulley with said drive pulley operable to drive said drivenpulley in synchronism with said drive pulley, means positionable to locksaid drive pulley in either of two rotated positions, and means normallycontrolled by said driven pulley operable to disable said locking meansduring cyclic rotation of said driven pulley in timed relation to therotation of said drive pulley and operable upon driving detachment ofsaid belt with said pulleys to effect operation of said locking means ina predetermined rotated position of said drive pulley.

3. In a drive mechanism, the combination of a cyclically operable drivepulley, a driven pulley, means normally drivingly connecting said drivenpulley with said drive pulley, means for locking said drive pulleyagainst rotation following a full or partial cyclic rotation thereof,and means controlled by said driven pulley during rotation thereof forpreventing operation of said locking means and operable upon detachmentof said connecting means to enable operation of said locking means tolock said drive pulley in a predetermined one of said two cyclicallyrotated positions.

4. In a drive mechanism, the combination of a cyclical-1y operable drivepulley, a driven pulley, a belt means drivingly connecting said drivenpulley with said drive pulley, a positionable means operable in each ofa plurality of positions to lock said drive pulley against rotationfollowing each of a plurality of predetermined angular rotations of saiddrive pulley, and control means associated with said driven pulleynormally operable during rotation of said driven pulley to preventoperation of said positionable means and eifective to enable theoperation of said positionable means for locking said drive pulley in anangularly rotated position thereof corresponding to the angularlyrotated position of said driven pulley upon driving disablement of saidbelt means during cyclic rotation of said drive pulley.

5. In a drive mechanism, the combination of a toothed drive pulley, acyclically operable driving means for said drive pulley, a tootheddriven pulley, a timing belt drivingly connecting said driven pulleywith said drive pulley, a lock means rockable to each of two lockingpositions during cyclic rotation of said drive pulley, resilient meansnormally biasing said lock means to one of said two positions, meansassociated with said drive pulley for rotation therewith operable tolockably engage with said lock means in either rocked position thereoffollowing a predetermined angular rotation of said drive pulley, andmeans normally controlled by said driven pulley during rotation thereofoperable to control the rocking of said lock means alternately betweensaid two positions in timed relation to the rotation of said drivepulley to prevent engagement of said associated means with said lockmeans and effective upon driving disablement of said timing belt duringcyclic rotation of said drive means to enable said lock means to locksaid drive pulley against rotation in an angularly rotated positioncorresponding to the angularly rotated position of said driven pulley.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1912 Springle192 s 10/1953 VanHaandel 192-129

1. A DRIVE MECHANISM FOR A POSTAGE METERING MACHINE COMPRISING AROTATIVE DRIVING MEMBER, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING CYCLIC OPERATION OF SAIDROTATIVE DRIVING MEMBER, A ROTATIVE MEMBER DRIVEN IN CYCLIC TIMEDRELATION TO SAID DRIVE MEMBER, A BELT MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAIDDRIVEN MEMBER WITH SAID DRIVING MEMBER, AND A NORMALLY INOPERATIVELOCKING MEANS RENDERED OPERABLE BY SAID DRIVEN MEMBER IN EACH OF CERTAINANGULARLY ROTATED POSITIONS THEREOF TO LOCK SAID DRIVING MEMBER IN ACORRESPONDING PREDETERMINED ONE OF A PLURALITY OF ANGULARLY ROTATEDPOSITIONS UPON SEVERANCE OF SAID BELT MEANS.